Noise Music Healed My Voice After Coma, Says Stefania Pedretti

Stefania Pedretti, one half of the cult noise duo OvO, experienced severe encephalitis following a coma in January 2022. Intubation led to vocal cord issues, rendering her unable to speak for months. Her doctor proposed an unconventional treatment: returning to the rehearsal studio.

Pedretti, who co-founded OvO in 2000 with Bruno Dorella, was known for her powerful vocals. The voice impairment was deemed psychogenic, a psychological block rather than an organic injury. The therapy involved returning to music, which helped her overcome the "split" in her voice between speaking and singing.

Initial rehearsals were difficult, but playing the song "Queer Fight" prompted her voice to return with volume. This experience led to months of vocal exercises. Pedretti reflects that the musical part of her expression felt more instinctual and authentic, allowing her to regain normal speech.

OvO's 2025 album, "Gemma," showcases her transformed voice, blending growls with clean singing. Inspired by this journey, Pedretti began conducting workshops in 2023, focusing on the connection between voice, psyche, and body, and encouraging natural expression through shouting and screaming.